Air diffuser



Oct. 22, 1963 E. H. PERSON 3,107,597

' AIR DIFFUSER Filed Aug. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. ERNEST H. PERSON ZZ BY "1 ATTORNEYS E. H. PERSON AIR DIFFUSER Oct. 22, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1961 INVEN TOR ERNEST H. PERSON ArroR/vfys United States Patent Ofi ce 3,107,597 AHR DlFFUSER Ernest H. Person, New Britain, Conn., assigner to Ailied Ther-mai Corporation, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Aug. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 130,314 6 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) This invention relates to air diffusers for air distributing and Ventilating systems and more particularly to an air diffuser incorporating means for selectively controlling the path of air being discharged therefrom.

It is a general aim of this invention to provide an air diffuser of the type described that is particularly suitable for, though not limited to, installation in a ceiling panel, and which is capable of discharging air in a direction that can be easily and quickly adjusted over a range of approximately ninety degrees so that Warm air can be discharged generally downwardly or vertically from the air diffuser and cold air can be discharged in a horizontal direction, whereby air convection currents can be made use of for assisting in distributing the air.

It is another object of this invention to provide an air diffuser of the type described which has a simple construction that is easily fabricated and readily assembled or disassembled and which may be compactly arranged within a ceiling opening for presenting a pleasing ornamental appearance.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FG. l is a fragmentary top plan View of an embodiment of the air diffuser of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section View of the air diffuser taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIG. l; and FIG. 3 is a perspective View of a mounting bracket incorporated in the air diffuser of FG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, there is shown ran air diffuser generally denoted :by the numeral 1t) which is adapted to be connected to an air distributing and Ventilating system through a conduit, not shown, for directing heating or Ventilating air from the system to the diffuser circular inlet opening 12. Y The air `diffuser has an annular diffuser ring or housing 14 which has a central frustoconioal portion 16, two concentric cylindrical portions 18, 20 defining the inlet opening 12 and an outlet opening 13, and an outwardly flaring flange portion 22 that is adapted for overlying and engaging a ceiling panel (not shown) having an opening through which the diffuser ring 14 extends.

Coaxial-ly positioned within the diffuser housing 14 is an air deflector subassem-bly 35i that preferably has three radially extending hanger aims 32 that lie in angularly spaced planes extending radially from the diffuser axis and lwhich are centrally deformed and Welded together or otherwise secured to provide a central triangularly Shaped opening 33 through which a shaft (not shown) attached to a conventional air damper (not shown) may extend for convenient adjustment of the damper. An outer deflector 34 of generally frustoconical shape, terminating in an upwardly and outwardly extending annular lip 35, is radially slotted from its inner edge 35 for receiving the radial hanger arms 32 to which the deflector 34 is welded or otherwise secured. The passage 37 defined by the outer deflector 34 and the frustoconical portion 16 of the diffuser ring 14 provides a primary air passage for directing air from the upper circular opening 12 Patented Oct. V22., 1963 downwardly and Ioutwardly to the air discharge opening for-med between the cylindrical portion 20 and the deflector lip 35. As the frustoconical portion 16 and the frustoconica-l deflector 34 have substantially parallel sides, the passage 37 will have an increasing crosssectional area toward the air discharge opening which will have the effect of reducing the velocity of the air as it passes through the diffuser toward the discharge opening.

To deiiect the air passing through the central opening defined by the inner edge 36 of the defiector 34 there is provided a circular inner dellector 40 having a generally cup-shaped central portion terminating in an outwardly and upwardly extending lip 42. =For securing the inner deflector 40 rigidly to the 'hanger arms 32, each of the hanger arms is provided with Ian integral axially extending Vleg 44 that has an extension 46 received Within and upset upon the deflector 40. The air passage 48 formed between the deflectors 34 and 40 provides aisecondary air passage from which air in the embodiment shown is discharged at Ian angle of approximately 60 with the axis of the diffuser.

To axially adjust the fair deflector subassembly 3ft within the housing 14 for regulating the position of the outer deflector lip 35 relative to the cylindrical portion 20 and thereby control the discharge of air from the passage 37, there are provided three mounting brackets or hook assemblies 49. Each of the hook assemblies comprises an inwardly .facing hook mernbe-r 54 and a spring finger 52 that conforms to the inner surface of the hook member 54, and the assembly is -fixed to the housing 14 as by rivets 60 so that the spring finger 52 is capable of flexible movement away from the 'hook member 54. Each hook member 54 has an outwardly extending radial slot 56 that is adapted to receive the outer ends of the hanger `arms 32 for preventing relative rotational movement of the defiector `subassernbly 30' within the housing 14. To support the deflector subassembly 30, the .outer end of each hanger arm 32 is provided with 'an axially extending saw-tooth shaped edge having tapered portions S9 and supporting abutment portions 5'1, and the spring 52 is positioned to overlie the -slot 56 for engagement with the tapered portions 56 fand supporting abutment portions 51 at the juncture thereof.

The adjustment of the deflector subassembly 311 toward the inlet opening 12 or upwardly when the diffuser is installed in la ceiling panel, is accomplished by manually pushing the subassembly toward the inlet opening 12 until the ends of the spring fingers 52 slide along the tapered edges 50 and re-engage a selected juncture of the tapered portions 50 land the abutment portions 511. To `adjust the deflector subassembly 30 away from the inlet opening i12, the subassembly is rst manually pushed toward the inlet opening 12. until the hanger -arms 32 are clear of the bracket members 49. 'Ilhe subassemblly is then rotated to place lthe arms 32 ou-t of axial alignment with the brackets 49, moved axially alway from the opening -12, realigned rwith the bracket members, and then pushed toward the opening 12 until the desired position is obtained. Three tapered and 'abutment portions are used in the preferred embodiment for locating the deflector subassembly 3f) in fthe three positions shown in bold and phantom lines in FIG. 2; however, a different number of these portions Vcould be provided if found desirable.

In the adjusted position shown in bold lines in FIG. 2, :the primary air passage opening defined by the cylindrical portion 20 and the annular lip 35 is angularly positioned to face outwardly from the diffuseraxis and to- 'ward the panel in which the diffuser is installed, and consequently, the `air is discharged from the passageway 37 with ya velocity having a large Vector component parallel with the panel surface or in a horizontal plane when arcano? the diffuser is installed within a ceiling panel. This discharge of air in a direction away from the diffuser axis has the effect of drawing the secondary air discharged Ifrom the passage 4S away from diffuser axis. As the deiieotor yassembly 39 is adjusted toward the inlet opening l2, the primary air discharge opening is turned inwardly zwith the result that the discharge of the air from the passage 37 is adjustable between the aforementioned direction avv-ary from the diffuser aids and a direction toward the diffuse-r axis, and las the direction of discharge of the primary air is turned inwardly, it will impose an inward iiow upon the secondary yair discharged from the passage 4S.

lt will be seen, therefore, that the air diduser of this invention provides a simple construction which may be economically fabricated and which incorporates means for varying the direction of flow of the discharged air. Additionally, this air diffuser can be readily assembled within an opening in a ceiling panel or the like and provides an aesthetic and ornamental appearance without hindering or obstructing the air flow therethrough.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A diffuser for an air distributing and Ventilating system comprising; a diffuser housing having a substantially frustoconical portion and inner and outer cylindrical portions extending from the ends thereof, the inner cylindrical portion defining an inlet opening and the outer cylindrical portion defining an outlet opening having a diameter larger than the inlet opening, said diffuser housing further having a flange extending outwardly from the outer cylindrical portion for overlying a panel upon which the diffuser is installed; a deilector subassembly mounted coaxially within the diffuser housing and comprising three sheet metal arms fixed at their inner end and lying in angularly spaced planes extending radially from the diffuser axis, and an outer defiector having a substantially frustoconical shape terminating at its outer end in an outwardly and upwardly extending annular lip; said outer defiector being fixed at its inner end to the said arms, said arms having saw-tooth shaped outer edges providing a plurality of supporting abutments facing in the direction of the outlet opening, ree inwardly facing hook-shaped members fixed within the housing adjacent the inlet opening thereof, each of said hook-shaped members having a slot radially extending outwardly from itsl inner edge and receiving the outer edges of the three arms, and three spring fingers conforming to the hook-shaped members and lying adjacent the internal surface thereof, each of the spring f ngers having one end fixed to a hook-shaped member and the other end overlying the slot and resiliently engaging a supporting abutment whereby the deilector subassembly may be axially adjusted within the diffuser housing.

2. A diuser for an air distributing and Ventilating system comprising, a diffuser housing having first and second wall portions defining inlet and outlet openings respectively, a delector subassembly adjustably mounted Within the diffuser housing for movement in a direction inwardly of the outlet opening, said deflector subassembly comprising a deiiector having an outer edge defining with the second wall portion of the diffuser housing an air discharge opening, and a plurality of arms -fixed to the deector defining a plurality of supporting abutments spaced at different intervals from the outlet opening, said supporting abutments facing in a direction outwardly of the outlet opening, and a plurality of resilient spring fingers having one end fixed to the diffuser housing and the other end adapted for resilient engagement with the supporting abutments whereby the deflector subassembly may be adjusted in a direction inwardly of the outlet opening and with CII respect to said second wall portion for altering the discharge opening.

3. A diuser for an air distributing and Ventilating system comprising, a diffuser housing having first and second wall portions defining inlet and outlet openings respectively, a defiector subassembly having at least one deliector spaced from the diffuser housing adjacent the outlet opening for defining with the second wall portion an air discharge opening, and manually operable means mounting the defiector subassembly for adjustment in a direction inwardly of the outlet opening said means comprising a plurality of spring fingers each having one end fixed to one of the housing and deflector subassembly, and a plurality of supports fixed to the other of the housing and deiiector subassembly, each of said supports defining a plurality of abutments spaced at different intervals from the outlet opening, said spring fingers each having their other end positioned for resilient engagement selected abutments whereby the deflector assembly can be adjusted in a direction inwardly of the outlet opening and thereby with respect to said second wall for altering the discharge opening by changing the engagement of the spring fingers with the support abutments.

4. An air diffuser rfor an air distributing and ventilating system comprising, an annular diffuser ring having first and second -wall portions defining inlet and outlet openings respectively, a deflector subassembly comprising at least one circular defiector mounted concentrically with and spaced from the diffuser ring `for defining with the second Wall portion an air discharge opening, and means fixed to said defleotor defining a plurality of edges having a plurality of axially spaced supporting abutments thereon facing in a `direction outwardly of the outlet opening, a plurality of inwardly extending members fixed within the ring and having slots for receiving said edges, and a plurality of spring fingers each having one end fixed to the ring and a portion overlying a slot for resilient engagement with :a supporting abutment whereby the deflector subassembly may be adjustably moved in a direction inwardly of the outlet opening` and with respect to said second wall Vfor altering the dischar-ge opening. 5. A diffuser adapted :for installati-on in a ceiling opening for connection to an air distributing and ventilating system comprising, a diffuser housing having first and second wall portions defining vertically spaced inlet and outlet openings respectively, a deector subassembly mounted within the housing havin-g a dellector with an outer edge defining with the second wall portion an air discharge opening, and a plurality of arms fixed to the deflector and terminating in saw-tooth shaped verftically extending edges providing a plurality of downj wardly facing supporting abutments, and a plurality of spr-ing fingers having one end fixed lto the diffuser housing and the other end adapted for resilient engagement with the supporting abutments whereby the deflector subassembly may be manually adjusted in a direction inwardly of the outlet opening and with respect to said second wall for altering the discharge openings.

6. A diuser for an air ydistributing and Ventilating system comprising, an annular diffuser ring having first and second wall portions defining respectively an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at the other end concentric with but langer than the inlet opening,

a deflector subassembly mounted within the diff-user ring comprising a plurality of radially extending arms having generally saw-tooth shaped axially extending outer edges providing a plurality of supporting abutments facing in a direction outwardly of the outlet opening, and at least one defieotor fixed to the arms and defining with the second wa-ll portion `of the diffuser Kring an air discharge opening, a plurality of inwardly facing hook members fixed within the diffuser ring and having slots extending radially outwardly Ifrom the inner edge thereof, saidslots receiving the outer edges of the radial arms, anda plu- 5 raiy of spring ngers each having one end overlying a slot of a hook member 'and the other end xed integrally to the hook for engagement with a supponting abutment whereby the `deflector may be adjusted in a direction inwardly 0f the outlet `opening -and with respect Wto said 5 second Wall for altering the discharge opening.

References Cited in he ie of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,125,454 Marshall Aug. 2, 1938 2,616,355 McCabe et al. NOV. 1952 FOREEGN PATENTS 396,468 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1933 

2. A DIFFUSER FOR AN AIR DISTRIBUTING AND VENTILATING SYSTEM COMPRISING, A DIFFUSER HOUSING HAVING FIRST AND SECOND WALL PORTIONS DEFINING INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS RESPECTIVELY, A DEFLECTOR SUBASSEMBLY ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE DIFFUSER HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION INWARDLY OF THE OUTLET OPENING, SAID DEFLECTOR SUBASSEMBLY COMPRISING A DEFLECTOR HAVING AN OUTER EDGE DEFINING WITH THE SECOND WALL PORTION OF THE DIFFUSER HOUSING AN AIR DISCHARGE OPENING, AND A PLURALITY OF ARMS FIXED TO THE DEFLECTOR DEFINING A PLURALITY OF SUPPORTING ABUTMENTS SPACED AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS FROM THE OUTLET OPENING, SAID SUPPORTING ABUTMENTS FACING IN A DIRECTION OUTWARDLY OF THE OUTLET OPENING, AND A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT SPRING FINGERS HAVING ONE END FIXED TO THE DIFFUSER HOUSING AND THE OTHER END ADAPTED FOR RESILIENT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SUPPORTING ABUTMENTS WHEREBY THE DEFLECTOR SUBASSEMBLY MAY BE ADJUSTED IN A DIRECTION INWARDLY OF THE OUTLET OPENING AND WITH RESPECT TO SAID SECOND WALL PORTION FOR ALTERING THE DISCHARGE OPENING. 